Android app for setting up Dahua HDW4431 security camera

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Gordy7

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Topic # 230543 28-Feb-2018 16:27

This Dahua HDW4431 security camera (4Mpix) is easily set up with Windows IE or Chrome with IE Tab.

I have not been able to find an Android app or browser that will allow full camera setup access.

There are plenty of Android viewers..... IP Cam Viewer Lite for instance at least allows some mirroring control.

The big setup requirement is in the Motion Sense Event masking.... among other things.

I could look at other camera options but even Hikvision appears to be Windows setup based.

I want to set up the above camera and send it off to my brother who lives 500km away.

His only experience is with his Android Tablet.

So I need to get everything sorted before I send any equipment and apps to him.

Any help would be most appreciated.

Gordy

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Reply # 1966195 1-Mar-2018 00:14

I haven't tried this since I'm using an ersatz Dahua (Amcrest), but if their Swiss-army-knife gDMSS Plus can't do it then chances are nothing can.

Gordy7

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Reply # 1966414 1-Mar-2018 11:02

neb: I haven't tried this since I'm using an ersatz Dahua (Amcrest), but if their Swiss-army-knife gDMSS Plus can't do it then chances are nothing can.

I tried the Dahua gDMSS Lite... a viewer... Have also looked online at gDMSS Plus and gDMSS HD Plus... still fancy viewers from what I can see.

Dahua IP camera products (and other similar manufacturers cameras) seem to have a Web UI setup that is Internet Explorer Windows-centric :-(...

I will keep looking for an Android Web UI solution...

Gordy

neb

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Reply # 1966419 1-Mar-2018 11:09

Gordy7:
I will keep looking for an Android Web UI solution...

If gDMSS can't do it then you may be at a dead end. Dahua only sell to resellers, not the general public, so they go out of their way to make sure the general public can't do much with their cameras.

Can you temporarily enable remote access on the cameras, set them up over the net, and then lock them down?

Spyware

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Reply # 1966450 1-Mar-2018 12:21

ActiveX

Gordy7

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Reply # 1966463 1-Mar-2018 13:11

Spyware:

ActiveX

Guess that is why IE works and so does Chrome with IE Tabs.

I see there was a lot of discussion back about 2011 on ActiveX for Android.

Firefox for Windows used to access my Dahua cameras. Tried FF on Android without success.

I will have a further look for ActiveX for Android..

Gordy

Resnick

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Reply # 1966469 1-Mar-2018 13:25

Firefox for Windows versions 50+ (maybe 52+) wont work as they disabled NPAPI plugins. Try an older version of firefox and see if that works.

rscole86

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Reply # 1966484 1-Mar-2018 13:29

Pale moon 32bit browser should work on Windows. But I cannot help with an Android solution, I've never tried gdmss plus.
Could you look at setting them up with VPN based access, a lot more secure than relying on them to ensure the remote access to the camera works and is disabled again. Especially as it may require tweaking over time.

neb

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Reply # 1966486 1-Mar-2018 13:35

rscole86: Could you look at setting them up with VPN based access, a lot more secure than relying on them to ensure the remote access to the camera works and is disabled again. Especially as it may require tweaking over time.

Yeah, that would be a better solution than the one-off network-access thing. Depends on how feasible it is if the target isn't tech-savvy, e.g. can they open up a holes in their firewall/router, is it feasible to ship a VPN device alongside the Dahua, and is the overall operation going to cost more than getting a cheapie externally-controllable camera, by which I don't mean one that listens on 0.0.0.0:21/22/80/8080 but one that contacts an external server under your control for instructions so you can set it up for them.

rscole86

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Reply # 1966490 1-Mar-2018 13:43

I would ship it with a Raspberry pi with pivpn set up for them. They only need to do the port forwarding for the VPN then, assuming you're tech savvy enough to then remotely configure the camera.
Disclaimer; I've never tried to use Smartpss or web based configuration of my camera over a VPN.

Gordy7

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Reply # 1966534 1-Mar-2018 14:40

My brother is not tech savy... so I will have to make the camera and apps work from my end.

I will supply him with a configured camera he can browse on his local LAN.

The camera will also email motion sense snap shots to a target email address.

The issue is with set up of the motion sense array masking which is a graphical setup.

I am currently looking a Teamviewer VPN that appears to offer an extended LAN to the remote computer.

I don't know if it is feasible yet... the plan:

My Windows PC running IE browser linked by Teamviewer VPN to the remote Android tablet to pick up the LAN address of the Dahua camera.

Gordy

Gordy7

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Reply # 1966802 1-Mar-2018 22:31

KISS option...

Set up a small Windows tablet to be used for IP camera setup, install Teamviewer and send it off with the IP camera to be used until the camera is configured as required.

Once the camera is setup, use Android tablet to view the camera on the LAN and pick up motion snap shot emails.

Gordy

sbiddle

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Reply # 1966832 2-Mar-2018 07:03

THere aren't any. SmartPSS gives you full control of the cameras from Windows or Mac but not Android.

hairy1

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Reply # 1966862 2-Mar-2018 08:04

I use Dahua with Blue Iris. It works great however you have to have a PC running the application.

I use duckdns to provide dynamic DNS services back to my dynamic IP so that the Blue IRIS android app gets alerts and recorded video.

It does take a bit to get setup but I haven't touched it since setup.

I have blocked my Dahua from accessing the internet and solely use the Blue Iris to access. If you want more info about my setup let me know.

Cheers, Matt.

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Gordy7

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Reply # 1986741 1-Apr-2018 12:17

I got my brother (who uses Android only) set up with a Dahua HDW4431 security camera by sending him a small Windows Tablet that I could log into with Teamviewer.

Now I am thinking that long term he should get a Dahua NVR4104HS-4KS2 NVR or something similar.

Reading the docs on this NVR, it looks like you can hook it up to network camera and TV and then use a USB mouse to gain full access to the camera setup and for viewing of course.

No need for a Windows computer.

Gordy

hairy1

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Reply # 1986743 1-Apr-2018 12:19

You could also use Tinycam Pro on the android.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alexvas.dvr.pro

Cheers.

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